Rubone
Member
I like 38s as well, here are mine. These are all .38 only, the .357s are a whole other group.
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in my book the 38 Special is alive and well
- Thread starter 357smallbore
- Start date
ThomasT
Member
My 442 is my preferred carry gun. Loaded with my handloaded WC bullets. My first caliber to reload for was 38 special. Its still my most reloaded and shot handgun. I have thousands of cases saved back and 5 bullet molds so I can keep it running. I won a shelf full of trophies using a 6" model 19 and 6" GP-100 when I shot falling plate matches. All ammo was my 38 special handloads.
I buy used 38s anytime I see a deal on one. Yo just can't have too many 38 revolvers. Or 357s for that matter.
I buy used 38s anytime I see a deal on one. Yo just can't have too many 38 revolvers. Or 357s for that matter.
ThomasT
Member
I just went to Academy Sports a few hours ago and they had 38 special on the shelf. The had 130gr FMJ and Winchester 158gr LRN. And I forgot to note the price. They also had 44 mag and 45 Colt. The 45 Colt was $65 a box. And thats why we shoot 38 special. Those three were the only revolver rounds I saw. No 357 mag which surprises me. None that I found anyway.
commygun
Member
I came for the photos and am not disappointed!
Rock185
Member
Alive and well for me too. But I admit that, other than my employer issuing and requiring carry of .38 Spcl., for me it was mostly for carry in little snubby revolvers. The only .38 Spcl. I can recall reloading was way back when I was experimenting with loading HBWCs backwards. Much better factory stuff available now days.
I still sometimes carry one of those little .38s, but now days .38 Spcl. is for me an easy on the wrists load to be shot in .357 revolvers on a quiet afternoon at the range...
I still sometimes carry one of those little .38s, but now days .38 Spcl. is for me an easy on the wrists load to be shot in .357 revolvers on a quiet afternoon at the range...
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,806
The small-framed Taurus 85 was a retirement gift to myself. I've been on a 3-inch 38 special revolver "spree" over the past year or so. It's such a nice length to shoot. The balance is really good for me. I had an unpleasant hand injury about a year ago, and 38 special has been very gentle on my mitts. 
Like @357smallbore , I prefer shooting the 720 with the hammer. (sorry for thread drift)
Like @357smallbore , I prefer shooting the 720 with the hammer. (sorry for thread drift)
P5 Guy
Member
The perfect, for me, 38SPL
CajunBass
Member
I don't know how many 38/357's I've had over the years but it's a bunch. S&W, Colt, Ruger, Taurus, Dan Wesson, Charter Arms, Rossi, and probably some I can't remember, but there's been a LOT of 38 ammo fired in them. I've only got a couple of revolvers these days, which both happen to be 357's, but they see mostly 38 wadcutters, or a low end 158 grain RN load in 357 brass. Those paper targets don't take a lot of killing.
stonebuster
Member
I've done my part ridding the market of these obsolete and inadequate 38spl revolvers
whenever I've got the funds to perform this selfless act.
whenever I've got the funds to perform this selfless act.
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,806
@stonebuster , you're doing a great job of keeping us safe!
JTHunter
Member
Between the .38 Special and the .357, is there any other caliber that has as wide a range of bullet weights that can be fired from these guns?
The lowest factory load that I am aware of is the 110 gr., but I don't know if there are any lower weight loads.
Then, you can get loads that go up to 158 gr., and (I think) a 185 gr. load for the .357.
The lowest factory load that I am aware of is the 110 gr., but I don't know if there are any lower weight loads.
Then, you can get loads that go up to 158 gr., and (I think) a 185 gr. load for the .357.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
110-180 is very common in 357. There are 230gr 357 bullets available for handloads.
I have 200 - 305gr ammo for my 44mag and I know that there is more available than that.
armoredman
Member
Heir Kommt Die Sonne
Member
MCB has a good taste in revolvers.
Palladan44
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,903
Shooting louder (supersonic) hand guns with snappy recoil all the time, well....wears on you. Especially as you get older. And when 99.9% of what you're shooting at is paper or bowling pin, who the heck cares about more power? I sure don't. And for defense, .38 is adequate power and just as controllable, if not more controllable than any SD cartridge out there.
I find myself shooting more and more 38s these days, and enjoy keeping the rounds in the 10 ring consistently.
They hand load easily and economically, arguably the easiest cartridge to handload of all time. Data is endless, projectile options are a miriad, brass lasts decades and dozens upon dozens of cycles due to the inherent low pressures and straight wall design. Brass isn't getting chewed up by magazine lips, extractors, ejectors, not to mention flung in the wet gravel and/or stepped on.....
A good old .38 special at your side should serve you well just about anywhere. Nothing out of style about it.
I find myself shooting more and more 38s these days, and enjoy keeping the rounds in the 10 ring consistently.
They hand load easily and economically, arguably the easiest cartridge to handload of all time. Data is endless, projectile options are a miriad, brass lasts decades and dozens upon dozens of cycles due to the inherent low pressures and straight wall design. Brass isn't getting chewed up by magazine lips, extractors, ejectors, not to mention flung in the wet gravel and/or stepped on.....
A good old .38 special at your side should serve you well just about anywhere. Nothing out of style about it.
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Palladan44
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,903
I've tried the light bullet route, but they aren't as accurate as the greater bearing surface of the 148 WC -158gr SWC I could see the 105s being super cool for Cowboy action or speed shooting up close. Super lite.
Heir Kommt Die Sonne
Member
Yea pretty much it. Practically the best cartridge to handload for. Brass can last a long time, not to mention you can trim it down and still shoot it safely. Recoil is not bad, about as powerful as a 9mm.
ThomasT
Member
I cast a Lee 124gr bullet intended for 9mm reloading but straight out of the mold they measure around .358 so perfect for loading in 38 cases without the bother of resizing. I just use anywhere from 3 to 3.5grs of Bullseye powder and I doubt they are going more than 800fps from a 4" barreled gun. And you can shoot them all day long without fatigue. They are perfect for snubby practice. Even in a light weight snub like a 442 or my 637 they just don't hurt. I would feel better about using these loads in a light weight snub rather than a gun chambered in 22 or 22 mag if recoil were an issue for the shooter looking for a SD gun.
I have been shooting the .38 Special a lot more than I used to.
It has several advantages.
!. In a 2 pound gun like a 4 inch barrel S&W K-frame or an old RUGER Security Six, it is an easy to shoot, well balanced and pleasant handling gun. I shoot a pair of S&W model 15's and a 4 inch RUGER Security Six all the time.
2. You do not have to chase the brass. It drops out right there.in front of you.
3. The new premium bullet loads like the FEDERAL HST, SPEER Gold Dot, WINCHESTER bonded ammo like the PDX-1 really perform. I now keep premium .38 Special +P loads in my .357 magnum revovlvers. Unless I am out in the woods, I think the quicker recovery time between shots and milder recoil, not to mention the reduction in noise and muzzle blast are a fair trade off
4. My first issue gun was a .357 magnum and when I was younger and stronger, that was fine. Now, I am getting ready to retire and will probably just use .38 Specials when my stock of .357 ammo runs out.
Also, I find the mid-size guns like the K-frame S&W and RUGER Six series to be just about a perfect fit for me.
Jim
It has several advantages.
!. In a 2 pound gun like a 4 inch barrel S&W K-frame or an old RUGER Security Six, it is an easy to shoot, well balanced and pleasant handling gun. I shoot a pair of S&W model 15's and a 4 inch RUGER Security Six all the time.
2. You do not have to chase the brass. It drops out right there.in front of you.
3. The new premium bullet loads like the FEDERAL HST, SPEER Gold Dot, WINCHESTER bonded ammo like the PDX-1 really perform. I now keep premium .38 Special +P loads in my .357 magnum revovlvers. Unless I am out in the woods, I think the quicker recovery time between shots and milder recoil, not to mention the reduction in noise and muzzle blast are a fair trade off
4. My first issue gun was a .357 magnum and when I was younger and stronger, that was fine. Now, I am getting ready to retire and will probably just use .38 Specials when my stock of .357 ammo runs out.
Also, I find the mid-size guns like the K-frame S&W and RUGER Six series to be just about a perfect fit for me.
Jim
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
I hope I have many many years left with my 38. Like many have said: such a forgiving cartridge to load for. A little silly but I’ve even had dreams of light target plinking with a 38. Here’s a pic.
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35 Whelen
Member
I love the .38 Special and own 3 ea. 4" Model 10's. 1 ea. 4" Model 15 and I don't know how many .357's. They're all very accurate and are easily capable of palm-size offhand groups at 25 yds.
My Dillon loader is set up to load a 158 gr. cast SWC to right at 900 fps and this is my general purpose load.
Not at all, if you're a handloader.
The bullet in the photo is a home-cast 160-ish gr. SWC. Loaded over 5.5 grs. of Unique it averages just shy of 1000 fps out of any of my 4" Model 10's and my 4" Model 15.
I fired these bullets into water at impact velocities of 750 and 800 fps and as one can see, they expand very well and would work perfectly for self defense.
35W
My Dillon loader is set up to load a 158 gr. cast SWC to right at 900 fps and this is my general purpose load.
Not at all, if you're a handloader.
The bullet in the photo is a home-cast 160-ish gr. SWC. Loaded over 5.5 grs. of Unique it averages just shy of 1000 fps out of any of my 4" Model 10's and my 4" Model 15.
I fired these bullets into water at impact velocities of 750 and 800 fps and as one can see, they expand very well and would work perfectly for self defense.
35W
